Sargent Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

All employers in Sargent, GA, are obliged under the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act to ensure that injured workers can recover compensation through a workers’ compensation claim in the event of a work-related illness or injury. So, when you’re hurt or fall ill on the job, workers’ compensation is there to protect you and help ease the economic, psychological, and physical implications of a work-related disease or injury.

Unfortunately, far too often, genuine workers’ compensation claims are underpaid or denied altogether. No matter how you got injured, if it happened at work or in the course of your employment, even if your employer/insurance carrier has denied your claim, a Sargent workers’ compensation lawyer can help make sure you receive all the benefits you need and deserve.

At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, we have a wealth of experience in successfully recovering maximum benefits for injured employees throughout Georgia. We specialize in workers’ comp cases and pride ourselves in our proactive services on behalf of injured workers. Let us help with your workers’ comp claim in Sargent, GA.

Expert legal advice is available – don’t suffer in silence. Call us at 470-518-5026 to talk to our legal team during your free initial consultation.

Workers’ compensation is an insurance system that protects employers (from claims stemming from on-the-job injuries or illnesses) and employees by giving workers benefits if they suffer a work-related injury or disease. This coverage is mandatory for all employers in Georgia and can help cover medical expenses and partial wage-replacement benefits for any worker who suffers a compensable work-related illness or injury.

What Should I Do If I’m Hurt on the Job?

Anyone may be confused or even in shock when they get hurt on the job. Still, it is highly recommended that you take certain steps after a work-related accident so you can protect your health and right to recover workers’ comp benefits. These steps include:

1. Inform your employer about the accident and your injury.
2. Seek medical attention ASAP.
3. Record and document your accident and injuries.
4. File your workers’ comp claim with the help of a Sargent workers’ compensation lawyer.
5. Rest and recuperate.

What Are The Top 10 Most Common Work-Related Accident Injuries?

Work-related accidents can happen to any employee at any time. In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over 78,000 nonfatal work-related illnesses and injuries were reported among Georgia’s private industry employers, resulting in a TRC or incidence rate of total recorded cases of 2.5 cases per 100 full-time equivalent employees. While Georgia’s TRC is significantly lower than the national rate of 2.8, over 70,000+ individuals still had their lives turned upside down by a workplace injury or illness.

Accidents and injuries we frequently see as workers’ compensation lawyers in Sargent, GA, include:

• Burns
• Hearing loss
• Slip and fall accidents
• Auto accidents during business-related travel
• Injuries such as back and neck injuries that occur from carrying or lifting objects
• Overexertion
• Broken bones
• Workplace violence
• Accidents involving contact with objects or operation of equipment and machinery
• Exposure to harmful substances

Why Should I Hire a Sargent Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

Whether you’re reporting your on-the-job accident and injury or you’re filing an initial application for workers’ comp benefits, a Sargent workers’ compensation lawyer’s guidance can make a significant difference in the outcome.

Workers’ compensation claims in Sargent are complex and require experience and knowledge of Georgia and federal law. When you call the Sargent workers’ compensation lawyers at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, we’ll handle every aspect of your case:

• Gathering vital evidence to show the cause of your workplace accident to prove that the incident did not occur because of your willful misconduct.
• Dealing with relevant organizations, including your employer, their insurance carrier, and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation on your behalf.
• Represent your interests during negotiations with the insurance company for financial settlement.
• Proving the extent of your injuries.

At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, our specialist attorneys have a long, successful history of assisting injured workers pursue workers’ comp benefits. Trust our experience – Call us at 470-518-5026 to talk to our Sargent workers’ comp attorneys.

How Much Do Sargent Workers’ Comp Lawyers Charge?

It’s actually quite affordable to hire a Sargent workers’ compensation lawyer. Typically, the state places limits on how much attorneys can charge workers’ comp clients, and you only pay if your case is successful.

In Sargent workers’ compensation cases, hiring our lawyers won’t cost you anything out-of-pocket. At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, we charge a contingency fee – usually capped at 25% of the benefits we help you obtain.

What to Do If Your Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits Is Denied?

When you receive notice that your claim has been denied, don’t give up. Instead, pick up the phone and contact an experienced Sargent workers’ compensation attorney right away.

While you have options to help you appeal a denied claim, such as requesting the insurance carrier to review their decision, requesting a hearing with the “Board,” and other several levels of appeals, these legal processes are incredibly complex. With a skilled workers’ comp attorney on your side, you can explore all available options to recover the coverage you deserve.

What Are Employee Responsibilities in a Workers’ Comp Claim?

Even if your work-related injury occurs on your first day on the job, you can still recover workers’ compensation benefits. However, for you to remain eligible for these entitlements, you must adhere to the following responsibilities:

• You must follow all written rules of workplace safety and other reasonable procedures and policies of your employer.
• Report your injury immediately to your employer or no sooner than 30 days after the work-related accident.
• Injured workers in Sargent, GA must seek and accept appropriate medical treatment and rehabilitation efforts after a workplace illness or injury or when ordered by the “Board.”
• You must document the cause of the injury/illness to show that the incident did not occur because of your willful misconduct.
• Employees must submit themselves to an IME or independent medical evaluation and a drug test if the employer or insurance company requests one to take place.
• Injured employers seeking workers’ comp benefits must notify the employer/insurance carrier of the new address upon remarriage or relocation.
• You must attempt a job approved by your authorized treating physician even if that job pays less than the job you had before your got hurt.
• Injured workers in Sargent seeking reimbursement for mileage and other costs related to medical treatment must submit a request to the employer/insurance company within one year of the date the cost was incurred.
• If the dependent(s) of an injured worker in Sargent does not receive allowable entitlement payments, they must file a claim with the “Board” within one year after the injured worker’s death, or they lose a right to these entitlements.
• If you believe you are entitled to workers’ comp benefits in Sargent, GA, and your employer/insurance company denies these entitlements, you must file a claim within one year after the last authorized medical treatment date or within two years of your last weekly payment of benefits.

What Are Employer Responsibilities in a Sargent Workers’ Comp Claim?

Employees in Sargent and throughout Georgia have a right to report work-related illnesses or injuries. Employers must adhere to the following responsibilities in a Sargent workers’ compensation claim process or risk fines, misdemeanor charges, and even jail time. These responsibilities include:

• Fill out a First Report of Injury for reporting the worker’s injury to the insurance carrier. The employer has a responsibility to make the report regardless of their opinion on the matter since it is the insurance company’s job to investigate.
• Employers must guide the injured worker’s treatment by providing Sargent workers with a list of at least six physicians who are able and willing to the worker’s illness/injury and are located within the community.
• Employers must give the injured worker the contact info or their workers’ comp insurance company or adjuster.
• Employers must comply with all investigating parties, including the worker’s attorney and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
• Employers in Sargent have a responsibility to take measures to prevent another employee from falling ill or being hurt by the same root cause.
• Employers have a responsibility to consider different ways to help the injured worker return to work.

Can I Be Fired for Claiming Workers’ Compensation?

No. Workers are often, understandably, reluctant about making workers’ compensation claims due to fear of getting fired or because they might upset an existing relationship with their bosses. You are protected in this regard, and your employer cannot dismiss you or treat you differently in circumstances where you bring a lawful workers’ compensation claim.

Are There Any Time Limits to Pursue a Workers’ Comp Claim in Sargent, GA?

Under the statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims in Georgia, individuals who wish to file a claim following a work-related illness or injury have one year from the accident date to submit their claim. If the claim is not filed within one year from the accident date, the claim is statute-barred or effectively dead.

Can I Sue My Employer?

No. In simple terms, you give up your right to sue your employer by accepting a job that covers you under Georgia’s workers’ compensation. Only in cases where an employer retaliates against you can an attorney recommend pursuing a lawsuit. However, while you may have limited options when seeking compensation for injuries against your employer, you can file a lawsuit against third parties if they caused your workplace accident.

Can an Independent Contractor File a Claim for Workers Comp Benefits?

No. Employers in Georgia are not required to provide contractors and subcontractors with workers’ comp coverage – meaning they CANNOT file for benefits.

What Is My Sargent Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?

Workers’ comp will pay for:

• Your medical bills (with authorized treating physicians
• Any rehabilitation costs
• Prescription medication
• Partial wage replacement – which will be two-thirds (66%) of your average weekly wage (with a cap of $675 per week)
• Any necessary travel or mileage costs related to the treatment of your illness or injury
• PPD or Permanent Partial Disability & an additional sum of money if the authorized treating physician issues a disability rating in compliance with the American Medical Association Guidelines

Contact Us Today for a Free Case Evaluation

If you’ve fallen ill or you got hurt on the job, let the Sargent workers’ compensation attorneys at The Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition handle the pursuit of the benefits you are owed. We will take care of all aspects of your Sargent workers’ comp claim from start to finish while updating you at every stage of your case.

Contact our Sargent workers’ compensation lawyers by phone at 470-518-5026 to schedule your free consultation.